HOW TO BEAT A BULLY

Cinemavixion Review

Doug Bilitch's "How to Beat a Bully" presents a lighthearted, family-friendly take on the perennial issue of schoolyard torment. Released in 2015, the film stars Grant McLellan as Cory, a young boy who navigates the choppy waters of a new town by employing a rather imaginative defense mechanism: convincing the local bullies that his father is a mob hitman. This clever fib, however, spirals into a comically convoluted situation when real mobsters take notice. The narrative, penned by Marilyn Anderson and Richard Rossner, cleverly blends elements of childhood ingenuity with the unexpected arrival of organized crime. The plot summary highlights a tone that balances broad comedy and physical humor, aiming for laughs while subtly embedding an anti-bullying message. While the film may not have garnered major awards, its premise promises a fun, if slightly absurd, adventure for younger audiences and families looking for entertainment with a positive underlying theme. The IMDb rating of 5.1 suggests a mixed but generally acceptable reception for its intended genre.